Collaborative Design Planting Design Working Group 2

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Please add the title of your case study here, adjust the map coordinates and replace the moa image with a characteristic image of your site

Name	Project Biotope
Location	Forchheim
Country	Germany
Authors	Abdullah Arafa,Evelina Knyzelyte,Rini James

Landscape and/or urban context of your case

LOCATION : The site of "Project Biotope" is located along the autobahn A73 towards Forchheim, Germany. Apart from the many farms and fields, the most predominant public green space in the city of Forchheim is the StadtPark (City park). The city also consists of considerable amount of forest cover. Overall, Forchheim is located in in the lower terrace of the Rhine valley and has a fertile and arable land.

SITE HISTORY : This site served as a landfill for construction debris like bricks,stones,sand,etc from local and neighbouring construction and demolition sites. With excessive dumping the land was close to exploited and needed supervision and this intentness created a demand among private investors which led to encroachment and soon a logistics centre was set up in one part of the site. Eventually, the state took measures to guard a part of the site which is yet unexploited and took an initiative to conserve this area by transforming it into a BIOTOPE (specifically an amphibian reserve).The existing conditions in the undisturbed parts of the site are extremely conducive to transform this less prominent area into a potential 'lung space' for the region.

BIOGEOGRAPHY : The undisturbed parts of the site is rich in vegetation and the ever changing local conditions show new plant species shooting up in various parts of the site. While the most dominant species of trees on site are ‘Acer cappadocicum’ ‘Betula pendula’ ‘Pinus Strobus’ ‘Betula Pendula’ and the ground cover is predominantly ‘Molinia caerulea’ and ‘Juncus effusus’ , exactly one or two shoots of ‘Verbascum thapsus’ and a couple of other species are seen thriving. The site terrain which was relatively flat has self-modulated with time, forming sand dunes and deep trenches dramatizing the experience on site. The sandunes, are believed to be a result of dispersal of sand by wind from the landfill part of the site.Existing water bodies are also home to some aquatic creatures like fish and toads.

DYNAMICS : The site is sometimes used by private owners for camping or rented out for campers. The area encroached to be used as landfill has minimized in size after the proposal to revitalize the area. This acreage is not an identified piece of land but it is prominently located and possesses innate abilities to transform itself into a dignified landscape.

OVERALL : Favourable existing site conditions (soil/vegetation) and the site setting shows optimism in the project proposal. This could establish a cultural connect which is currently non existent in the site vicinity.

• Illustration: Map; sketches; short descriptive analyses

What are the objectives of your design?

Please give a short written argumentation (not more than 150 words). It is ok if you have different or even contradicting objectives within your group. Just make it explicit at the beginning of your process

To analyse the scope of the site and compare it to the possibilities of the proposal. To suggest alternatives in terms of project type and usage pattern. To explore the design possibilities while understanding its urban context and its influence at a micro and macro level.

Analytical drawings

Please add four analytical sketches/drawings (or montages/schemes) of your case. Every group member needs to contribute at least one drawing.

• Analytical Drawings
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  analytical drawing 1

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  analytical drawing 2

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  analytical drawing 3

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  analytical drawing 4

Projective drawings

Please add four projective sketches/drawings (or montages/schemes), of course with an emphasis on planting design/vegetation aspects. Every group member needs to contribute at least one drawing representing his/her individual ideas.

• Projective Drawings
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  projective drawing 1

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  projective drawing 2

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  projective drawing 3

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  projective drawing 4

Design Synthesis

Please analyse the individual approaches presented so far and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses (you may use the SWOTanalysis model). Try to create a synthesis and represent it with a plan and some sketches. You can still use drawings/sketches.

• Design Synthesis Drawings
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  synthesis drawing 1

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  synthesis drawing 2

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  synthesis drawing 3

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  synthesis drawing 4

Summary of the collaborative process

Please reflect on your collaborative design process. Which potentials have you encountered? What was most difficult? What does collaborative design mean for you? (approx 150 words).

Image Gallery

You may add a series of images/photos in addition to the sketches/drawings

• Image Gallery
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  image 1

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  image 2

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  image 3

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  image 4

References

* Please make sure that you give proper references of all external resources used.

* Do not use images of which you do not hold the copyright.

* Please add internet links to other resources if necessary.

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